Cheers and jeers

Cheers to positive school report card data in Ross County, particularly for Huntington schools. A year ago, the district met slightly more than half of the 24 testing indicators, but a unified front between school employees and parents helped Huntington shoot up to 21 of 24 -- outstanding progress and a model for struggling districts to strive to repeat. Several other local districts saw hard work turn into improvement. It's a pleasure to report strengthening local schools, and we hope the trend continues.

Jeers to a massive budget shortfall that will further impact Hocking College students. The small Nelsonville college announced it will lay off 23 workers and postpone buying new computers, among other measures, as it struggles to cope with a $4.3 million budget shortfall. While it's true that down enrollment forced the cuts, those students who are left are feeling the pinch, too. We hope for brighter days ahead for the place where many local people have trained for careers.

Cheers to the return of real referees in the National Football League, and jeers to the horrible handling of the controversy of last Monday's Green Bay-Seattle conclusion. We're happy the veteran referees returned at Thursday's Browns-Ravens game, but their need was no more demonstrated than in the reaction to the play that forced the league to get a deal with the refs finished. Multiple errors on the final play resulted in rightful outrage by football fans regardless of team affiliation. It's about time!

Jeers to those who don't obey the common sense and safety laws that apply in and around schools and school buses. A reader called in with a story of a little girl almost hit by a woman who tried to pass a bus in a fit of impatience, while one of our employees expressed frustration for parents who don't wait in line to drop off children in the school zones -- while cars go around each other regularly. Remember everyone, the rules are in place to keep our kids safe, not to slow us down. Take a moment and remember that, please.

Cheers to the Miami Marlins for helping Adam Greenberg realize a major league dream. Greenberg was a rookie with promise in 2005 when a fastball drilled him in the back of his helmet and changed his life. The Marlins will use Greenberg in a game Tuesday after a campaign to get him one more at-bat. He will donate his $2,600 salary for the game to Sports Legacy Institute, a group that furthers the study, treatment and prevention of the effects of brain trauma in athletes and others. It's not a stunt -- Greenberg hopes to catch on with a pro team next season -- but it's a good way to help fulfill a dream for a young man and help bring attention to a real sports issue -- head injuries and their treatment.

Jeers to Apple for releasing their own Maps application before it was ready. CEO Tim Cook said Friday that the company was working hard to fix the problems -- which included fewer details, misplaced landmarks and other problems -- and, get this, encouraged iPhone users to go to apps like MapQuest or Bing to be able to use maps effectively. Steve Jobs, we miss ya.

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Cheers and jeers

Cheers to positive school report card data in Ross County, particularly for Huntington schools. A year ago, the district met slightly more than half of the 24 testing indicators, but a unified front